It has been nearly half a century since much of the infrastructure in Conneaut Lake borough received upgrades, municipal officials said.

So a $1 million federal grant from the Department of Commerce was announced on Monday will go a long way to finance the overhaul the borough is planning, officials there say.

"This is extremely important. We have been in a deteriorating state for many years with infrastructure here," said Mayor Timothy R. Kaider.

The borough is planning $6.5 million in upgrades, which also are being funded with $1.5 million in grants from the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the State Department of Community and Economic Development and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Kaider said sidewalks, water pipes and sewers in the business district are out of date. The Crawford County borough of about 650 people have no storm water drainage system."Tourism is our No. 1 industry, and these grants are a big help," said Bill Eldridge, president of the Conneaut Lake Community Development Committee.